Environment and Economy Hurt by Logging

In Margot Higgins article, "National Forest Logging is Bad Business, Study Says," she writes about a study released in 2000 that shows that logging on national forest land not only hurts the environment, but also the economy. The report stated that national forests supply more than 530 million acres feet of clean water to cities. Also, the forests filter more than 53 million metric tons of carbon fiber from the atmosphere. The cost of the clean water and air is about 6.4 billion dollars a year. Logging, which removes large amounts of trees in national forests, takes away the natural filter and pollutes the water and air even more. The article states that “the federal logging program creates billions of dollars in unaccounted costs.” These costs are paid for by American taxpayers. The article also says that the money being reinvested in logging should instead be used for restoration of the environment.

This article adds even more emphasis for the need to limit uses of national forests as logging areas. If people are not worried about the environmental effects, they should definitely care about the economic effects. If so much money is being wasted on this harmful practice, why doesn’t somebody work to reduce how much is allowed? The trees make our life better by providing essential water and clean air. When the trees are removed, we are forced to find our own ways to get these necessities. It all could end up just wasting much more of American taxpayers’ money.


Higgins, Margot. "National Forest Logging Is Bad Business, Study Says - March 16, 2000." CNN.com - Breaking News, U.S., World, Weather, Entertainment & Video News. Environmental News Network, 16 Mar. 2010. Web. 15 Apr. 2010. CNN.com - Nature - National forest logging is bad business, study says - March 16, 2000